Animals, landscapes, protests, and empty streets shot by aerial photographers from a bird’s-eye view were awarded by the judges of the annual Drone Photo Awards 2020. This competition includes photos and videos of work made with drones, and according to the organizers, they receive tens of thousands of works each year.
The Siena International Photo Awards organizer has selected more than a dozen images as winners of the Drone Photo Awards 2020. Until a few years ago, the competition had only a few categories, but now their number has grown to 9, and there were 2 categories for videos. The competition did not stay away from world events and devoted a whole category of photos and videos showing the impact of the pandemic coronavirus, with several memorable landscapes of empty cities.
The jury selected a picture of Australian photographer Jim Pico as the overall favorite, illustrating a shoal of salmon that miraculously formed in the shape of a heart.
The award-winning photographs will be exhibited at the collective photo exhibition “Above Us Only the Sky” which will be held in Siena, Italy in late October and early November. The winner of the “Drone Photographer of the Year 2020” competition will receive the Pangaea Crystal Ball on the night of October 25 at a special awards ceremony in Siena at the Teatro dei Rozzi Theatre.
PHOTO OF THE YEAR
The Heart of Nature
Author: Jim Picot
In winter, the shark hunts a flock of salmon. The shoal of fish took a bizarre form in the form of a heart.
URBANISM
1st place
Alien architecture on Earth
Author: Tomasz Kowalski
Sometimes we need to change the angle of view to feel the power of architecture more strongly. The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers, are skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2nd place
Dubai Marina
Author: Carmine Chiriac
It is extremely interesting to see the architectural solutions of the buildings, streets, and piers of the Dubai Marina district, contrasting with the ocean water.
Highly rated:
A drop of water on a blade of grass
Author: Milosz Kuss
An old mill in the middle of a field. This green path contrasts beautifully with the surrounding field and from the sky looks like a drop of dew on a blade of grass.
Buffalo Man
Author: Alex Cao
Breeding semi-wild water buffaloes, which after the harvest will be able to feed freely in the vast plowed fields.
Sunrise on the Top
Author: Rex Zou
At 4:30 a.m., mysteriously shrouded in clouds, this is what the second tallest building in Shanghai looks like.
WILDLIFE
1st place
Where herons live…
Author: Dmitrii Viliunov
Many people think that herons make nests in reeds or on the swamp. In fact, they nest on the tops of huge trees, and sometimes they can be seen by drone.2
2nd place
Mobula Rays Schooling
Author: Mark Carwardine
Although it was difficult to estimate how huge this stranded was, the drone showed a small group of thousands of Mbuwl Munch stingrays (also called the rays of the dwarf devil Munch) floating in one circular direction.
Highly Rated
An afternoon drink
Author: Rajarshi Banerji
With the onset of the dry season, when grass becomes scarce and water sources dry up, Indian rhinos are looking for new pastures where they can graze.
Flamingo flock heart
Author: Thomas Vijayan
The abundance of algae in the lake once attracted a huge number of flamingos, flocks lined up along the shore. In 2013, the lake experienced an alarming rise in water levels, which led to the migration of flamingos to Lake Bogoria in search of food.
Homecoming
Author: Mehmet Aslan
A herd of buffalo runs past the lake before moving to a safer place to rest.
SPORT
1st place
On the sea
Author: Roberto Corinaldesi
An aerial view of the swimmers, at a time when the blue sea surface becomes a hiding place between the white foam waves.
2nd place
Ball up
Author: Brad Walls
The tense movements of the tennis player before the blow against the background of the clean court line create a harmonious effect for the eyes.
Highly rated:
Surfing Margaret River
Author: Shane Richardson
Margaret River, an area well known for its wineries, is also one of the most challenging surfing spots in the world.
Matty buys Wakeskate
Author: Tyrone Bradley
Weixkeiter Matti Bays makes a 360-degree jump on the vehicle with LED lighting. The strobes were launched manually at the final moment when Matti catches a board over a concrete bridge.
Waterfall
Author: Davide Lopresti
The surfer tries to challenge the waves. They are quite difficult to hold on to, not to mention them to tame and be able to dissect.
Aerial view of continental pool in NSW
Author: Sagi Roitfarb
PEOPLE
1st place
Frozen Land
Author: Alessandra Meniconzi
At a temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius, winters in the Eurasian steppes can be harsh. But life does not stop, and the locals go on a sleigh from one village to another, crossing icy rivers and lakes.
2nd place
2,000,001
Author: Tugo Cheng
Two million Hong Kongers took to the streets on June 16, 2019, calling on the government to revoke the controversial extradition law. The night before the historic march, which was attended by nearly a third of the population, the Ljung Lin-Kee killed himself by hanging a banner demanding the people in the city center.
Highly rated:
Mountains of salt
Author: Igor Altuna
An aerial photograph taken at a salt-and-air site near a small town on The Central Coast of Vietnam.
Cross the field
Author: Khanh Phan
The girl, her mother, and their herd of cows walking in the pasture return home after a day’s work.
Women sorting dry red chilies
Author: Md Tanveer Hassan Rohan
Women who collect red chili peppers under the sun for more than 10 hours a day for a small fee work in one of the many factories specializing in pepper drying.
Carpet field
Author: Mehmet Aslan
Hundreds of handmade carpets are spread out on the field for painting them with different colors, with the scorching effect of sunlight. A couple of workers lay down on the carpets after the work is finished to relieve daytime fatigue.
NATURE
1st place
Gray Whale Plays Pushing Tourists
Author: Joseph Cheires
Last year, at the end of the “grey whale season”, I was told about a gray whale that has been coming for the last three years and likes to play with boats, gently pushing them. So we’re back a year later, and it’s incredible… the famous gray whale appeared and as a result, this picture was taken!
2nd place
Flamingos at Lake Logipi
Author: Martin Harvey
The early morning sun illuminates the flamingos gathered on the shores of Lake Logipi, next to an interesting geological formation resembling a fan.
Highly rated:
Lonely Road
Author: Hong Jen Chiang
Driving through Ring Route 1, angry with the magical and charming landscape, I was ready for everything that lies ahead.
The Island
Author: Pawel Zygmunt
Crater row
by James Rushforth
The ingested craters in Iceland’s vast interior. The intense red color at the edges is caused by the scale, stained with the oxidation of iron minerals in the lava, which is very contrast to the surrounding basalt. Under the craters passes a white car.
ABSTRACT
1st place
Phoenix Rising
Author: Paul Hoelen
Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes. This symbolizes the beginning of a real regeneration process at the Lake Owens industrial site. After the devastating past and the emergence of America’s most polluted lake, migratory birds return and life begins anew.
2nd place
Largest congregation
Author: Azim Khan Ronnie
More than 600,000 people took part in The largest Eid-ul-Fitr gathering in South Asia. Eid-ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday of happiness celebrated all over the world.
Highly rated:
Swirl
Author: Boyan Ortse
An abstract image of the chemical reaction of the Pink Lake in Western Australia.
Spring zebra
Author: Lukasz Rajs
This small village in the Chenstokhova region is distinguished by large canola crops that create beautiful patterns extending to the horizon.
The fishing net
Author: Trung Pham Huy
The fishing net, during the anchovy fishing season, looks like a flower floating in the sea from the air.
LIFE IN-TIME COVID-19
1st place
Black flag
Author: Tomer Appelbaum
Thousands of Israelis maintain social distance due to Covid-19 restrictions as they protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rabin Square on April 19, 2020.
2nd place
Heart of Warsaw
Author: Rafal Ganowski
The oldest part of Warsaw, which before the pandemic was filled with crowds of people and umbrellas from nearby restaurants.
Highly rated:
Corona
Author: Levent Ates
Muslims pray Friday, maintaining a social distance and getting used to living with coronavirus.
The Lockdown
Author: Bachir Moukarzel
Dubai’s busiest motorway, taken off without cars during a blockage for disinfection of the municipality.
Grounded by Covid-19
Author: Ingrid Hendriksen
We got permission to fly over Avalon Airport to document the landing of the plane due to the Covid-19.
WEDDING
1st place
Tropical Bride
Author: Mohamed Azmeel
I used the flowers and leaves leftover from the wedding decoration to do something creative.
2nd place
Lovers on the field
Author: Krzysztof Krawczyk
We were looking for some abstraction. We had a boat, a drone and… a lot of time. The strong wind created a beautiful storm in the field. Unusual weather conditions and the sight of a couple in a kayak showed me a “tiger’s eye” or “deer’s eye”. A wonderful combination: beautiful lovers, fabulous nature, strong wind, and this landscape.
Highly rated:
Pebble / Wave
Author: Dominic Lemoine
After the ceremony, the couple went to the beach and decided to take a dip. We were lucky enough to find the perfect waves that only touched the hem of the dress.
Framed
Author: Tobias Froehner
It was the perfect combination. Beautiful pair, VW Beetle, frame. It was easy to create a great composition.
Wedding party
Written by: Dejan zagar
Noticing a square pattern on the ground of Curzon Hall, I asked the bride, the bride, friends of the bride, and groom to lie in a symmetrical position.
VIDEO: EMPTY CITIES: LIFE IN-TIME COVID-19
1st place
NY on pause
Author: Pablo Barrera Edward Kostakis
The city, which never sleeps, takes a nap in 2020. This is the only opportunity in life for the city to rethink, rebuild and wake up tomorrow for a bright future.
2nd place
Russia Corona Moscow Covid-19
Author: Pushkin Fly Team
Shocking video of drones from Moscow, Europe’s largest city, which was effectively shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020.
3rd place
Lockdown – Dubai
Author: Bachir Moukarzel
Dubai quarantine day and night: empty beaches, empty parks, a fountain in Dubai, empty shopping malls in Dubai, empty streets.
The full shortlist for all categories can be viewed on the official website of the Drone Photo Awards 2020.
